Boys Track – DA 76, Hotchkiss 37Girls Track – Hotchkiss 73, DA 31
Once again, Deerfield’s Track & Field team spent the week wondering whether inclement weather would or would not disrupt the scheduled competition against Hotchkiss and Loomis. A late shift in the forecast allowed the meet to proceed as scheduled, and Deerfield was finally able to compete in its first full-team competitive meet. Deerfield competed well as a team and rode the strength of the throwing group to a win over both rival teams, despite a day of relative rest for many athletes who had traveled two days earlier to Philadelphia to compete successfully in the Penn Relays.
The throwing group was led by Chigozie Oge-Evans and CJ Williams, who finished 1-2 in both the shot put and the discus, with contributions from Alex Volkman in the discus and Will Sutman in the shot put as well, and another 1-2 finish from javelin throwers Brady Stahelski and Bob Provost. Muyi Woghiren and Chandler Dicks were the leaders among 4 Deerfield Long Jumpers to make the 5-person finals in that event. Deerfield also took most available points in the 110 and 300 Meter Hurdles. Deerfield’s distance group again saw strong competition from Loomis, while Hotchkiss athletes scored well in the high jump and pole vault.
Two highlights on the track were the 100 Meter dash and the 4×400 Meter Relay, each of which event saw strong competition from all three teams. In the first heat of the 100 Meters, spectators and athletes alike were stunned by the too-close-to-call and too-fast-to-believe race between Deerfield’s Triston Ward and Hotchkiss’ Mohammed Nuhu. Video showed Nuhu edging Ward in a virtual dead tie, with each runner posting a hand-timed 10.6 (converted to 10.84 by standard method). It is entirely likely that NEPSTA has never before witnessed two athletes running this fast in one race, and the league may eagerly anticipate a tremendous 100 Meter final at the May 20 Championship. In the 4×400 Relay, all three teams finished within .6 seconds, with many lead changes over 3:35. Deerfield placed second on the strength of a strong kick from Farouk Mukhtar.
The 4×400 was the conclusion to an excellent meet, and Deerfield owes thanks to Hotchkiss and Loomis for the strong competition and the good meet hosting. Deerfield will return for their only home meet of the season on Saturday, May 6 against Choate and St. Paul’s.